Police: Santa Rosa Impostor Used ICE Deportation Threat To Sexually Assault Woman

A 42-year-old Santa Rosa man, identified as Peni Cere, is in custody after police say he posed as a police officer, forced his way into a woman’s car and sexually assaulted her while threatening to turn her over to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). The victim initially did not report the assault but came forward later, which led detectives to identify and surveil Cere. Officers arrested him without incident; he was booked on charges including threatening arrest or deportation to commit sexual assault and assault with intent to commit rape and is being held on $250,000 bail. Police urged other potential victims to come forward, reassured the community that local law enforcement does not cooperate with ICE, and provided contact information for local victim support services.